VS.

VS. is one of the more confusing titles I've ' had to deal with this month. I mean, I still can't figure out what VS. is trying to do. It's a lackluster fighter that seems to glorify gang fighting, yet each gang is only comprised of four people? If anything, VS. is trying to be something it's not, and instead of focusing on the gameplay, we've got a game that relies on flash and effect. The music really saves much of the game for me, and the over-the-top martial arts really shines at 30 frames per second. That's where the fun ends though, as the computer must have a red belt in butt-whuppin'. Your paltry orange belt won't cut it here, so you'll be relegated to playing with friends to gain much enjoyment. Like most games with incredibly high difficulty--even on Easy settings--you will degenerate into lifeless patterns of block, counter, dodge, counter, sweep, counter. While the game is easy to complete, this pattern requirement sucks the fun out of it. Don't even get me on character design. I won't say much about that other than they lack imagination and originality. I've seen them all before. Sadly, VS. is yet another awesome attempt at gaining a respectful place in the fighting game genre, but it just tries too hard, merely annoying any who play it. On a positive note, getting ring-outs is done well.

I'm probably the only one here who likes this game at all. The key to enjoyment of VS. is not taking it so seriously. Although performing super-long Chain Combos are as easy as rapidly pressing the buttons, the moves have that certain Shaolin "Kung Fu Theater" quality to them. I really don't think VS. was meant to be a serious Tekken killer but a fun and silly diversion. The graphics are a little blocky but the killer music makes up for it.

I can't say I'm very impressed with VS. I mean it's nothing more than average. With games like SF EX Plus a and Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi out there, I can't find a good reason to buy this one. I mean the moves are cool and all, but then the graphics look too blocky. I liked the game much better in Two-player Mode since the one-player games are nearly impossible--maddeningly so. I wouldn't spend any more than $25 on it.

VS. tries to capture the magic of games tike Tobal and MegaMix. It does a decent job but never reaches the quality of those two titles. VS. is held back by a lack of variety. Although the game has 16 fighters, most of them behave pretty much the same. Keep slapping your buttons, and you'll pull off one combo or another. The game's best features: the offensive/defen-sive evade button and the incredible animation. Not bad, but could've been better.